If you listened to the podcast this offseason, you know Riggio is one of, if not my favorite, prospect from a fan perspective. Riggio’s all gas, no breaks approach to the game with a knack for making acrobatic plays and coming through in the clutch…how can one not be a fan? But the 2023 4th rounder out of Oklahoma St. is turning more legit MLB prospect than cult favorite. Injury caused a late start to the season. After two complex games, he’s been back in Hudson Valley for 12 games in what feels like continued rehab before he hits Somerset for the first time. After an 0 for 10 start in his first two+ games, he’s got 10 hits over 9+ games, 5 HR, and went hitless in just one game. Here are his first 30 BBEs of his Hudson Valley season:
Here’s what he’s done as a pro:
Riggio showed an ability to hit hard line drives to all fields last season and might be one capable of maximizing batted ball shape and backspin to hit balls over the wall at a higher clip than his stature and EVs might suggest. Riggio maximizing what he’s got to work with is kind of his thing. Included in the video were a few booth clips remarking on how the ball traveled further than they thought it would, which is starting to be an observation when watching him. Riggio has posted exit velocities north of 110. There’s bat speed. There are also good contact skills in his aggressive approach.
Riggio is in a tough org to break through, but I’m sold we’ll see him in the bigs at some point. The up-the-middle-glove and intangibles might be seen as the carrying tools, but Riggio is not a nothing at the plate. At 1% Fantrax rostership, he’s a great B‑Side prospect. If he keeps swinging it like this, especially when he gets to Somerset, that muddy status isn’t going to last.